The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-30
ESCAPE OF M'GARIGLE.

History is said to repeat itself. In
the larger view Of human affairs it is
not difficult to trace similarity of move
ment amid the forces and factors of
the past. We frequently recognize the
same rule or law operating in current
affairs. Chicago has just furnished
another example.
In 1875, William M. Tweed, the great
municipal thief Of the city of New
York, was convicted and sentenced to
incarceration in the penitentiary at
Blackwell's Island. He succeeded in
having his case brought before the
court of appeals, and was discharged
from custody on criminal conviction,
but was arrested OH civil proceedings.
While in custody of the sheriff, await
ing bail in the sum of $4,000, 900, he
escaped from Sheriff Connolly. Nom
inally under restraint, the great Boss
Thief of his age had been permitted
sundry favors which rendered his i'm
prisonment merely formal. He fled to
Spain, where he was captured, was re-
turned to New York, and finally died
during his imprisonment.
Last Saturday night, w. J. Nc
Garigle, the convicted ''boodler" of Chi
cago, escaped from the custody of
Sheriff Matson. Visiting his home in
Lake View, he was politely accorded
leave to take bath in his bath room,
and while the humane and obliging
sheriff was chatting with friends in the
parlor, McGarigle took advantage of
the opportunity to make his escape.
Since that time, although Chicago is all
alive with excitement and searched
from one end to the other, no clue has
been found. 1t is the general impress
sion that McGarigle is now fairly on
the way, amply disguised, to Canada.
1t may prove that the police of this or
other cities will intercept him, but the
hope is only family cherished. The
bird has flown and will not soon be re-
turned to the cage.
Who blames McGarjgle? The peni-
Tertiary was awaiting him, and the
chances for new trial were growing
less with every development in the
progress of the trial of his associates.
He had been convicted on the charge of
conspiracy to defraud the county, and
sentenced to three years in the peniten-
tiary. He was the ex chief of police of
Chicago and a professional detective
himself. He knew all about the ways of
criminals and was well prepared to put
his information at the service of him.
self in extremity. He made bold
strike for liberty and succeeded. 1t
was to be naturally expected that such
man would endeavor to escape if an
opportunity presented. 1t did present
itself, and the confding sheriff, and
justice in Cook County, suffers.
1t remains to be seen whether the
escape of this Tweed of Chicago will
have any result in securing closer
supervision over similar convicted
thieves. Why favors should be ex-
tended to such men, the towering Grim
inals of the day, and ordinary petty
thieves denied freedom of movement,
is one of the problems suggested. Nc
Garigle's Saturday evening ride and
visit with his family, and his now
famous "bath," were favors extended
by officials to a criminal which will
cost dearly before the end is reached.
1t is high time that the system which
permits favoritism of this character,
exercised in relation to the worst kind
of criminals from which society suffers,
should be brought to account.